Creating A Text Based Game

[Infiltration]

Any advice on making a huge text based games filled with other player interraction like making a party system so players can bound together to kill bosses, can fight each other, have some images... etc.A good example would be www.Outwar.ComIt's more or less how I want my game to be, I just don't know how to build it.Thanks.

[Synook]

Have you learned any server-side language?

[ProblemHelpPlease]

Without knwoing your skill level we can't offer much advice, what languages do you know?, what have you written before?The first thing to do is to plan out exactly what you are looking to acheive with your game, It's much easier to code something when you know exactly what you want to have as a final result.

[Infiltration]

Sorry I didn't make myself completely clear, I want to create a game where you can fight monsters to level up, fight "bosses" with friends in a party system to gain strong items, be able to battle other players, and have a story like with some animation in it. I also wanted avatars or characters for each players so that it is not completely text.As for my level I am currently learning HTML, and I wasn't exactly looking for how to make it right now, I just wanted to know what I should be learning in what order, as I don't have much experience but I am studying for hours a day because I am very motivated.More about the game:I want it to be more than just a text based game, I want there to be a map you can move around on, I want there to be a system where when you wear certain armor/weapon, your avatar actually chances its appearance <-- (how do you go about that?) I don't know exactly what's crossing the line so I don't know what's possible or not, but these are the type of things I would love to see in it. I am definitely willing to work hard for this project, I just don't have the experience so I need help with what I should be learning and any tips.Thanks.

[ShadowMage]

JavaScript is probably going to be your best friend. (Though I may be wrong)But you are definitely going to need a database for inventory and character stats, so you'll need to know PHP and MySQL.

[justsomeguy]

It sounds like you're looking for the level of animation that you would need Flash for. If you're moving around on a map and changing your appearance (and I assume some sort of fighting animations), you're looking for a level of animation that would be very difficult to achieve with Javascript (although not impossible).

[Redroest]

I suggest that you start learning php after you got some experience with html. php allows you to interact with a server and make a website interactive etc. after that learn mysql to be able to store data on your server. After that, you can use javascript to make the system flexible and more userinteractive. So do the following:-Get some experience with html by making standard websites etc-Learn CSS to deal with layouts etc-Learn php to make your website flexible and able to communicate with the server-Learn mysql and learn how to cope with a database (also learn to normalize the database since you are going to store a lot of data)-Learn to make a content management system with php and mysql-Learn javascript to make teksteffects and clientside functions-Use the AJAX method to make the website more interactive and faster etc.html, php and css are the real basic for making an online game.Succes

[Ingolme]

I suggest that you start learning php after you got some experience with html. php allows you to interact with a server and make a website interactive etc. after that learn mysql to be able to store data on your server. After that, you can use javascript to make the system flexible and more userinteractive. So do the following:-Get some experience with html by making standard websites etc-Learn CSS to deal with layouts etc-Learn php to make your website flexible and able to communicate with the server-Learn mysql and learn how to cope with a database (also learn to normalize the database since you are going to store a lot of data)-Learn to make a content management system with php and mysql-Learn javascript to make teksteffects and clientside functions-Use the AJAX method to make the website more interactive and faster etc.html, php and css are the real basic for making an online game.Succes

Actually, most online games use Flash, or they have an executable application that you download in order to play.PHP just isn't designed for games, it's designed to serve content on static HTML pages.If it's only a purely text-based game that's not real-time then PHP probably could handle it, but for people who are getting into game programming, learn Flash, C++ or Java instead.

[Redroest]

Well he litterly says that he wants to have it textbased and since he is doing this from a website he just has to know how to create a well based system. Flash is just like other apps just one of the languages that can be integrated into php based websites

[Infiltration]

Yeah ok sorry guys, I guess I am making it seem like I'm planning to do something nearly impossible.Examples would be : www.Outwar.com It's a game where you sign up, battle players (all text based, turn based) for example "X hits for 250, You hit for 300, You win! you have gained xx Experience, xx Money" I don't mean actual animation or battle phases where it's like players are fighting like if its a game similar to Street Fighter. You also "raid" bosses for equipment with other players.Also, for the avatar and showing equipment, www.GaiaOnline.com has a system where when you wear clothes and stuff your avatar is shown wearing it, and you can change the pose of the character.I just want the character to be there for appearance purposes, but I don't really want them to actually play a big part of the game.Yes this is to be text based, not a flash game and not a mmorpg. With interraction though I mean that I would somehow have a map where you could move around, find certain monsters, and when you attack for it to be Text turn based, not actual animation fighting (I wish) but I know that would be asking for too much and I don't really want to put too much into that certain part.Quests are also things I want to add, and maybe some "cut scenes" but nothing too huge, a couple movement here and there.I don't know if asking for this is a lot but I am very dedicated for I am putting lots of time into studying, and I will make sure I get this done. I just need some help getting started. Thank you very much for all your answers guys. I'm glad I could find serious help here. (if anyone has msn/aim/yahoo that can help, it would be much appreciated)

[justsomeguy]

Regardless of what you use, you'll need to know a server language like PHP and how to interact with a database using SQL. Even if you use Flash you'll still need the PHP part. Other than that, you can get by with minimal HTML and a fair amount of Javascript and CSS. You'll probably end up using Javascript more than HTML and CSS combined.

[Infiltration]

Thanks for your response guys.I was just wondering if HTML played a big part and if anyone knows a step by step guide with starting this project. I tried putting what I learned about HTML to see what I could do with just that, but I couldn't figure out much.. I tried a couple things that just didn't work right. What exactly can you accomplish with just HTML? (any example websites made of pure html?)

[justsomeguy]

Pure HTML is only useful for structuring your basic document, and nothing else. A site that is pure HTML would be an informational site, just a series of pages you go through and read the information on them. You wouldn't be able to do anything like search, or submit a form, or log in, etc. HTML doesn't "do" anything, it just provides the structure for your document. So if you make a pure HTML site, it will probably look pretty plain and boring. You can use CSS to add formatting to your HTML to make it look better, you can use Javascript to add animation and interactivity to make the page easier to use, and you can use a server-side language like PHP to allow the site to do useful things, like sending email, logging in users, or working with a database. HTML is just the structure for all of that, if you have some Javascript and CSS which make a nice dropdown menu, the only thing HTML does is define the menu elements and text, so if the HTML was all you had then you'd just have a list of links instead of a formatted dropdown menu.

[Infiltration]

Thanks that really cleared it up, I was wondering why after I went through most of html I still couldn't really 'do' much. I thought I had to go through everything again. So I should be going on to css now? because it doesn't look like I'll be using much of HTML.

[Synook]

CSS is the next thing to learn, so you can style the HTML. Whatever you do with PHP, whatever, however, you always have to produce HTML in the end.

[Infiltration]

Hmm, thanks guys. I don't know why it feels like I won't be able to do it even after learning all this... anyone else felt that way in the beginning? What should I be doing with the html before styling with css?

[Synook]

I don't know why it feels like I won't be able to do it even after learning all this...

Don't worry, everything will begin to fall into place as you learn the full capabilities of each language.

What should I be doing with the html before styling with css?

Just write out the page's structure, with headings, paragraphs, images, tables, etc. all in place.

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"><html>	<head>		<title>My document</title>	</head>	<body>		<h1>My document</h1>		<p>			<img src="document.png">			This is my HTML document.		</p>		<table>			<caption>Learning milestones</caption>			<tr><th>Day</th><th>Milestone</th></tr>			<tr><td>1</td><td>Learn HTML</td></tr>			<tr><td>10</td><td>Learn CSS</td></tr>			<tr><td>20</td><td>Learn JavaScript</td></tr>			<tr><td>50</td><td>Learn PHP</td></tr>			<tr><td>100</td><td>Finish my text based game!</td></tr>		</table>	</body></html>

[Infiltration]

Thanks a lot, I guess I'll just try to work harder.

[MrFish]

JavaScript is probably going to be your best friend. (Though I may be wrong)But you are definitely going to need a database for inventory and character stats, so you'll need to know PHP and MySQL.

Don't rely too much on javascript. It's client-side meaning anyone can change and add to it if they know what they are doing. Don't use it to change database information, only to display database information. For example if you are moving a character along a grid by using the wasd keys (I know you said it was a text game but bear with me) and you are using javascript to move it and send the player location to the database, then a user could change the movement speed so that instead of moving one tile at a time, they could move 5. It takes a thorough understanding of server-side vs client-side to know how to protect yourself.

Thanks that really cleared it up, I was wondering why after I went through most of html I still couldn't really 'do' much. I thought I had to go through everything again. So I should be going on to css now? because it doesn't look like I'll be using much of HTML.

Html doesn't do anything at all. The way I describe it is, a website is like a house. -HTML is the support beams, boards and bricks that make up the structure. -CSS is like the wallpaper, paint, and all visual aspects. -PHP is everything that "works' in your house. The running water, electricity, television, stove, etc. -Javascript is all the creature conforts, not necessary but nice to have. Javascript is like your television remote, you don't need it to change the channel but it makes it easier for the user.

Don't worry, everything will begin to fall into place as you learn the full capabilities of each language.Just write out the page's structure, with headings, paragraphs, images, tables, etc. all in place.

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"><html>	<head>		<title>My document</title>	</head>	<body>		<h1>My document</h1>		<p>			<img src="document.png">			This is my HTML document.		</p>		<table>			<caption>Learning milestones</caption>			<tr><th>Day</th><th>Milestone</th></tr>			<tr><td>1</td><td>Learn HTML</td></tr>			<tr><td>10</td><td>Learn CSS</td></tr>			<tr><td>20</td><td>Learn JavaScript</td></tr>			<tr><td>50</td><td>Learn PHP</td></tr>			<tr><td>100</td><td>Finish my text based game!</td></tr>		</table>	</body></html>

I've made my own chart. Yours is the best case scenario, too optimistic (also, it doesn't take long to learn the languages. It takes forever to write it).

[Distortion]

nice chart :)I started with html 2 years ago but wasn't very interested back then. 2 months ago i picked it up again due to school and learned css and php. Now im making a game as well, but progress is very slow. Javascript especially sucks because I spend hours trying to figure out what is wrong with my scripts.And in my experience the bigger your motivation at the beginning the faster you'll stop trying.

[MrFish]

nice chart :)I started with html 2 years ago but wasn't very interested back then. 2 months ago i picked it up again due to school and learned css and php. Now im making a game as well, but progress is very slow. Javascript especially sucks because I spend hours trying to figure out what is wrong with my scripts.And in my experience the bigger your motivation at the beginning the faster you'll stop trying.

Unfortunately it's true. As for your game now, chances are you won't finish it. But keep trying because this attempt to build is important if you ever plan on building one. But your next attempt will most likely be a completely different game.